Melancholy & Sorrow Vocabulary

a deep, pensive sadness

“A gentle melancholy settled over her as autumn arrived.”

Origin: Greek melas `black` + kholē `bile`, from ancient medical theory of humors

a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction from lack of interest

“The aristocrats suffered from chronic ennui in their gilded cages.”

Origin: French ennui `annoyance, vexation`, from Latin in odio `in hatred`

world-weariness; sadness over the evils of the world

“His poetry expressed a profound weltschmerz about modern existence.”

Origin: German Welt `world` + Schmerz `pain`, coined by Jean Paul Richter in 1810

the state of physical or mental weariness; listlessness

“A pleasant languor overtook her in the summer heat.”

Origin: Latin languor `faintness, weakness`, from languere `to be weak or faint`

having a feeling of vague or regretful longing

“She gave a wistful smile at the mention of her hometown.”

Origin: Possibly from obsolete wistly `intently`, influenced by wishful

sounding sad and mournful

“The plaintive cry of the seagull echoed across the harbor.”

Origin: Old French plaintif `complaining`, from plainte `lamentation`, from Latin plangere `to beat the breast`

expressing sorrow; mournful

“The dog's doleful eyes begged for a treat.”

Origin: Middle English dol `grief` (from Latin dolere `to grieve`) + -ful

looking or sounding sad and dismal

“The lugubrious funeral march filled the cathedral.”

Origin: Latin lugubris `mournful`, from lugere `to mourn`

without consolation or comfort; unhappy

“She sat disconsolate after hearing the news.”

Origin: Medieval Latin disconsolatus, from dis- `not` + consolatus `consoled`

deprived of; lacking something needed

“He was utterly bereft after losing his wife of fifty years.”

Origin: Old English bereafian `to deprive of`, past participle of bereave

pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely

“The forlorn child waited at the window for parents who never came.”

Origin: Old English forloren, past participle of forleosan `to lose completely`

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage

“After months of rejection, he grew despondent about his job search.”

Origin: Latin despondere `to give up, resign`, from de- `away` + spondere `to promise`